Chiminey top assembly



NOV. 1, 1966 D THULMAN 3,282,194

CHIMNEY TOP AS SEMBLY Filed June 23, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Robert D. Thu/m an ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1966 R. D. THULMAN CHIMNEY TOP ASSEMBLY Filed June 23, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 205 g D. Thu/man BY r ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1966 R. D. THULMAN 3,282,194

CHIMNEY TOP ASSEMBLY Filed June 23, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Roberb D. Thu/man ATTORNEY 3,282,194 CHIMINEY TOP ASSEMBLY Robert D. Thulman, 10002 Frederick Ave., Kensington, Md. Filed June 23, 1964, Ser. No. 377,247 Claims. (Cl. 98-59) The invention relates to chimney top assemblies and aims genera-11y to improve the same.

Among particular objects of the invention, severally and interdependently, are the provision of a structure for such assemblies which can be shipped in a disassembled condition and be readily and quickly assembled at the place of use; the provision of a structure which can be Snap assembled, with assurance [against accidental disassembly; the provision of a structure which can be reduced in height for shipment; the provision of structure which reduces likelihood of rattling of parts; and the provision of'a structure that is simple, economical and foolproof.

The invention resides in the novel features and combinations and sub-combinations of structure herein disclosed, and is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the elements of one embodiment of the invention as presented in exaggerated perspective for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a corner-to-corner cross-section of the embodiment of FIG. 1, taken on the plane 2-2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a detail in plan of the inner elements of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail of one of the snap-brackets of the said embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a detail of another embodiment of bracket;

FIG. 6 is a detail of a part of a rain baffie formed to cooperate with the bracket of FIG. 5.

Referring to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the invention is there embodied in a chimney top assembly generally of the type shown in Thulrnan Patent No. 2,856,837 issued October 10, 1958. chimney top assembly there is provided a chimney t-op housing 17, usually rectangular, and a roof flashing element 20, which surrounds an opening 21 in the roof (see FIG. 1). The flue system with which the chimney top cooperates comprises outer and inner thermosyphon ai-r jacket ducts 22 and 23 and a central smoke flue 24.

The chimney housing 17 supports a chimney cap 25 having a skirt portion 25a and an upper portion of reduced cross-section 25b, within which are elements for controlling the flow of gases and rain in the chimney top assembly. The arrangements for this purpose in the aforesaid Thulman patent were fairly complicated and diflicult to assemble and also presented problems in shipping and installation. The arrangement of the present invent-ion contributes to solve such problems and to provide a chimney top assembly of improve-d simplicity and effectiveness.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, in the form shown there is provided a first rain baffle 30, which is positioned over said housing 17 in spaced relation thereto (as best shown in FIG. 2) and which has a central opening a therein, is outwardly and downwardly sloped as shown, extends in overhanging relation beyond the pe- In this type of nited States Patent 0 riphery of the housing 17, and generally conforms to assembly.

3,232,194 Patented Nov. 1, I966 as is preferred, the peripheral edges of baflle 30 are bent at right angles to the general plane of the baflie to form flanges 30c.

The chimney cap 25 in the form shown, is also of generally rectangular cross-section, and fits over and surrounds the first rain baffle 30; and [mounting means, shown as brackets 40, are provided for securing the chimney cap 25 and first rain 'baflie 30 to the chimney housing 17. A duct section 41, having a flared upper end 41a, is hung in the opening 30a and forms an extension of duct 23 through the first rain b-aflle 30.

The arrangement of FIGS. 1-4 further comprises a second rain baflie 45 supported above the central opening 30a of the first rain baflle 30 and the duct section 41 therein, and itself having a central aperture 45a therein; and a rain cap enclosure 50, which is supported above said second'baflle 45 in surrounding relation to said central aperture 45a, and which, in the form shown, is generally square in cross-section.

Mounting means is provided for securing the second baffle 45 and the rain cap enclosure 50 to the first rain baffle 30, and in the form shown is a snap engageable means comprising a plurality of bracket elements 60, secured to the first rain baflie 30 in surrounding relation to the opening 301: as by rivets or equivalent fastening means 61 (FIG. 2). As is shown in detail in FIG. 4 each bracket 60 comprises the foot portion 600 which is secured to the first bafile 30 as above described, opposed shoulders 60b, 60c intermediate its height for embracing the outer perimetral edge of said second baffle 45, and an upwardly projecting portion 60d for entering the rain cap enclosure 50, which is provided with outwardly and downwardly projecting tang means 60'@ for snap engaging in one of the slots 60 formed in the lower portion of the rain oap enclosure 50 as best shown in FIG. 1. In the form shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper portions 60d of the brackets 60 are curved in cross-section to more closely fit in the corners of the enclosure 50.

In the form shown the second baffle 45 is frusto-conical i.e. is dished downwardly toward its outer periphery for drainage, and extends in overhanging relation beyond the periphery of the opening 30a in the first rain baffle 30, and hence beyond the opening in the flue section 41, and the rain cap enclosure is of polygonal cross-section,

preferably square, with the slots 60 at its corners. Thus,

.in surrounding relation to the upper ends 60d of the brackets 60 and forced downwardly until the tangs 60e snap into the slots 60 in which position the lower edges of the enclosure 50 in the regions G (FIG. 3) in the form shown depress or flex downwardly the underlying portions of the conical baflie 45, while lying in spaced relation thereto at the portions h more proximate to the brackets 60 (FIG. 3), and the parts are also resiliently retained against accidental disengagement and rattling.

The slots 60 as shown, are preferably made several times as wide as the tangs 60a, to facilitate engagement thereof, and the use of the corners of a polygonal section to guide the tangs to the slots also aids in expediting It will be appreciated that, in addition, after the parts have been forced to the position shown in FIG. 2 to effect the engagement of the tangs, especially when the slots 60 have considerably greater height than the thickness of the tang, the enclosure may be raised slightly to seat the lower edge of the slots 60 firmly under the tangs 60e and that the resiliency of the baffie 45 pressing upwardly against the enclosure 50in the region g (FIG. 3) then locks the parts firmly and in the non-rattling relation to one another, and with ample room for drainage in the regions 11 (FIG. 3). To intentionally disassemble the snap assembled parts, the just described operations are reversed. Preferably after the parts have been assembled, the smoke flue section 61, which has a flared upper end 61a, and mates with the smoke flue 24 (FIG. 1) is hung in the second baflle opening 450.

It will be seen that the arrangement described in connection with FIGS. 1-4 provides a simple and effective assembly and one which saves shipping space and therefore enables the unit to be sold at a reduced cost. In shipments, the flue and duct sections 22, 23, 24 for a one story installation, the base unit which supports the same, and the duct and flue extensions 41 and 61 are usually housed inside the chimney top housing 17. With the arrangement of FIGS. 1-4, the elements 45 and 50 being disengaged from the brackets 60, the rain cap enclosure 50 may be displaced sideways and be dropped downwardly in surrounding relation to two of the brackets 60 and in non-surrounding relation to the other two, until its lower edge rests on the first baflle 30. The conical second baflie 45 can then be placed on edge within the chimney top cap 25. Thus the overall height of the shipping carton can be reduced substantially, to about the height of the chimney top housing with the cap 25 in place thereon, and the parts are all housed within the chimney top housing 17 and the cap 25, and are not projected therefrom to locations where they can be bent in shipment.

The brackets 60 (FIG. 4) have the advantage that they are fixed to the first rain baffle 30 (FIGS. l-3) by rivets, and hence cannot become lost or mislaid at the site of assembly. If desired, however, a saving of material and assembly cost may be effected by the arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this form, as shown in FIG. 5, the foot 60a of FIG. 4 is eliminated and replaced by a relatively narrow hooked finger 160a, the finger on one bracket being sheared from between the marginal portions 160k of the upwardly extending portion 1600! of the next bracket, while these brackets are being punched and sheared from strip stock. Thus a considerable saving of the relatively heavy gauge metal of the brackets is effected as well as the cost of four rivets and assembly. With this arrangement the first rain baflle 130 (FIG. 6) is formed with an aperture 131 to receive the finger 160a, one for each bracket. If desired a gob of sealant may be placed to seal the opening 131 when the parts are assembled.

The invention is not limited to the particular forms and usages shown to illustrate the same, and the accompanying claims are to be construed as broadly as is permitted by the prior art to cover the embodiments disclosed and claimed and all equivalents thereof.

I claim:

1. A chimney cap assembly comprising, in combination:

(a) a chimney top cap,

(b) a first rain baflle characterized in that it (1) is attached to said cap (2) in juxtaposition to the lower part thereof, and (3) has a central opening therein, (c) a second rain baflle characterized in that it (1) is supported above said central opening and (2) itself has a central aperture therein, (d) a rain cap enclosure characterized in that it (1) is supported above said second baflie, (2) in surrounding relation to said central aperture, (e) means for securing said second bafile and rain cap enclosure to said first baflle, said means comprising,

(1) a plurality of bracket members, (2) means for securing said bracket members to said first bathe in spaced relation about said central opening,

4 (3) said bracket members characterized in that they have (a) opposed shoulders intermediate their heights embracing the edge of said second baffle and (b) outwardly projecting tang means adjacent the upper ends thereof,

(4) said rain cap enclosure assembly (a) embracing the upper ends brackets and (b) having slots therein engaged by said tangs,

(5) said second bafile exerting outward pressure on said brackets at the shouldered portion thereof and said rain cap enclosure exerting inward pressure on said brackets adjacent the upper ends thereof when in assembled relation, whereby the parts may be snapped together and are resiliently retained against accidental disengagement and rattling.

2. A chimney top assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein (a) said second rain baflle is dished downwardly toward its outer periphery, and wherein (b) said second rain baflle exerts resilient upward pressure against portions of said rain cap enclosure intermediate said slots, and said tangs exert counterpressure downwardly against said rain cap enclosure at said slots, when in assembled relation.

3. A chimney top assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein (a) said rain cap enclosure is generally square in crosssection and has said slots at its corners, and wherein (b) said brackets are four in number and embraced by the corners of said rain cap enclosure.

4. A chimney top assembly asdefined in claim 1, wherein said slots are several times as wide as said tangs and of substantially greater height than the thickness of said tangs.

5. In a chimney top assembly, in combination,

(a) a chimney top housing which is (l) of substantially rectangular cross-section (b) a first rain baffle which is 1) positioned above said housing,

( 2) in spaced relation thereto,

(3) has a central opening therein,

(4) is downwardly and outwardly sloped,

(5) extends in overhanging relation beyond the periphery of said housing, and

(6) is generally rectangular but has the corners thereof cut away,

(c) a chimney cap which is (1) generally rectangular in cross-section and (2) fits over and surrounds said first rain baflle,

(d) mounting means for securing said chimney cap and said first rain baflle to said chimney top housing,

(e) a second rain bafile which is 1) positioned above said first rain battle,

(2) in spaced relation thereto,

(3) has a central aperture therein,

(4) is downwardly and outwardly sloped,

(5) extends in overhanging relation beyond the periphery of the opening in said first rain baffle,

(f) a rain cap enclosure which is 1) positioned above said second rain baflle and (2) in surrounding relation to the aperture therein, and

(g) snap engageable means for securing said second rain baflle and rain cap enclosure in position as aforesaid.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5, said snapengageable means comprising bracket means which are (1) mounted on said first rain baffle,

( p ipherally engaged about said second rain bafile,

and

of said 3) held in such peripheral engagement by being snapsecured to said rain cap enclosure. 7. In a chimney top assembly, in combination, (a) a chimney top housing, (b) a first rain bathe which is 1) positioned above said housing, (2) in spaced relation thereto, (3) has a central opening therein, (4) is downwardly and outwardly sloped, and (5) extends in overhanging relation beyond the periphery of said housing, and (c) a chimney cap which (1) fits over and surrounds said first rain battle, (d) said chimney cap and said first rain baflie being formed to provide drain openings therebetween spaced outwardly from said housing, (e) mounting means for securing said chimney cap and said first rain baffle to said housing, (f) a duct element supported in said opening, (g) a second rain baflle which is 1) positioned above said first rain bafile, (2) in spaced relation thereto, (3) has a central aperture therein, (4) is downwardly and outwardly sloped, (5) extends in overhanging relation beyond the periphery of said duct, (h) a flue element supported in said aperture, (i) a rain cap enclosure which is (1) positioned above said second rain baffle and (2) in surrounding relation to said flue element,

and (j) snap engageable means for securing said rain cap and second rain bafiie to said first rain bathe. 8. In a chimney top assembly, a first member, a rain baffle means in spaced superimposed relation to said first member, and a second member, said members being centrally apertured in alignment with each other, and means for snap assembly of said members comprising bracket elements each secured at one end to said first member, having opposed shoulders intermediate their height peripherally embracing said rain bafiie means, and having their other ends snap secured to said second member, said rain bafile means urging said brackets outwardly and maintaining a secure non-rattling assembly.

9. A combination as defined in claim 8, in which said rain baifie means is dished downwardly and outwardly and hence has lateral resiliency.

It In a chimney top assembly, a first member, a rain bafi'le means in spaced superimposed relation to said first member, and a second member, said members being centrally apertured in alignment with each other, and means for snap assembly of said members comprising bracket elements each secured at one end to said first member, having opposed shoulders intermediate their height resiliently engaging said rain baffle means, and having their other ends secured by snap engagement with said second member, said first and second members urging the ends of said bracket elements in one direction and said rain baffle means urging the shouldered portion of said bracket in the opposite direction thereby resiliently maintaining a secure non-rattling assembly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1957 Budge 98-84 2,922,354 1/ 1960 Breidert et al 9884 X MEYER PERLIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CHIMNEY CAP ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A CHIMNEY TOP CAP, (B) A FIRST RAIN BAFFLE CHARACTERIZED IN THAT IT (1) IS ATTACHED TO SAID CAP (2) IN JUXTAPOSITION TO THE LOWER PART THEREOF, AND (3) HAS A CENTRAL OPENING THEREIN, (C) A SECOND RAIN BAFFLE CHARACTERIZED IN THAT IT (1) IS SUPPORTED ABOVE SAID CENTRAL OPENING AND (2) ITSELF HAS A CENTRAL APERTURE THEREIN, (D) A RAIN CAP ENCLOSURE CHARACTERIZED IN THAT IT (1) IS SUPPORTED ABOVE SAID SECOND BAFFLE, (2) IN SURROUNDING RELATION TO SAID CENTRAL APERTURE, (E) MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SECOND BAFFLE AND RAIN CAP ENCLOSURE TO SAID FIRST BAFFLE, SAID MEANS COMPRISING, (1) A PLURALITY OF BRACKET MEMBERS, (2) MEANS FOR SECURING SAID BRACKET MEMBERS TO SAID FIRST BAFFLE IN SPACED RELATION ABOUT SAID CENTRAL OPENING, (3) SAID BRACKET MEMBERS CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THEY HAVE 